Whitchurch Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitchurch Hospital |
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| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | |
Main hospital entrance and bowling green
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 Location in Cardiff
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| Geography | |
| Location | Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°31′01″N 3°13′55″W / 51.51687°N 3.23184°W |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Public NHS |
| Hospital type | Specialist |
| Affiliated university | Cardiff University |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | No Accident & Emergency |
| Speciality | Psychiatric hospital |
| History | |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Closed | 2016 |
Whitchurch Hospital (also known as Ysbyty'r Eglwys Newydd in Welsh) was a special hospital in Whitchurch, a part of Cardiff. It helped people with mental health needs. The hospital was looked after by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Even though it's closed now, the main hospital building is still a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building. The gardens around it are also special and protected.
Contents
The Story of Whitchurch Hospital
Why Was It Built?
Cardiff grew very quickly in the late 1800s. The number of people living there more than doubled in just 20 years. Because of this, many people needed help with their mental health. By 1890, hundreds of Cardiff residents were staying in hospitals far away. Some were in places like Chester and Carmarthen. This showed a big need for a local hospital.
A Special Place: How It Worked
The Cardiff City Asylum, which later became Whitchurch Hospital, opened on April 15, 1908. It took ten years to build and cost a lot of money. The main building was huge, covering about 5 acres. It was designed to care for 750 patients. There were ten wards, with five for men and five for women.
Like many large buildings from that time, it was like its own small town. It had a 150-foot water tower that sat on top of a power house. This power house had special engines that made electricity for the hospital. The hospital also had its own farm. The farm grew food for the patients and gave them helpful work to do.
The first head doctor was Edwin Goodall. He had new and advanced ideas for helping patients. Because of his work, the hospital became known for its excellent mental health care. Patients were encouraged to work and even go on supervised trips outside the hospital. The first head nurse was Florence Emily Raynes.
Helping During Wartime
During the First World War (1914-1918), the hospital was used by the military. From 1915 to 1920, it was called the Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital. Lieutenant Colonel Goodall was in charge. The hospital helped many wounded soldiers. It also cared for soldiers who were experiencing stress from the war.
In 1919, Dr. Goodall received a special award, the CBE, for the hospital's important work. In 1918, Matron Raynes also received a high honor, the Royal Red Cross Medal. She received it from the King at Buckingham Palace for her service as a nurse.
During the Second World War (1939-1945), part of the hospital was again used by the military. It became the biggest emergency hospital in South Wales. It treated British, American, and even German soldiers. The hospital still kept 200 beds for regular patients. This allowed them to help military patients who were dealing with stress after difficult events.
New Ways to Help Patients
Between the two World Wars, Whitchurch Hospital started using a new treatment called occupational therapy. This therapy helps people by having them do meaningful activities. Sister Patricia Sunderland became the first occupational therapist at the hospital in 1930. She wrote about how helpful this therapy was for patients. Her report was the first about occupational therapy in Wales.
On July 5, 1948, the hospital became part of the National Health Service (NHS). The NHS is the public healthcare system in the United Kingdom. The hospital was then managed by a committee that also looked after Ely Hospital, another large hospital in Cardiff.
The Hospital Closes
In the early 1980s, a new approach called "Care in the Community" began. This meant that more people were cared for in their homes or in smaller local centers. Because of this, fewer patients stayed at Whitchurch Hospital. The number of people living there slowly went down.
In November 2010, the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board decided to bring all adult mental health services together in one place, at Llandough. Whitchurch Hospital officially closed its doors in April 2016.
